Some Encouragement

The other night at the Dallas airport I had some time to kill. My flight was delayed an extra hour and whenever I travel, I always print out numerous articles from a lot of different sources... most of which I never get a chance to read. But the other night, I was looking through my bag since my 3 books just weren't doing the trick, and I came across some articles I had printed out months ago for one of my flights home to CO. Finance articles (yup, this girl loves to read about work stuff), friend's blogs, the latest posts from Bill Gates, and finally exactly what I needed... a chapter called "Every Day Deserves A Chance" by Max Lucado.

Now I wasn't having a bad day or needing a change in perspective. But I DO have those bad days and I often DO need changes in perspective. So I picked it up and read it, seeking encouragement and advice. And I got everything I was hoping for and more. Words that made me take out my camera phone and snap a picture of the page, so when I am having one of those days, I can have this little refresher right there to refer to. I hope it's as encouraging to you as it was to me:

".... Suppose neck deep in a 'terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,' you resolve to give it a chance. You choose not to drink or work or worry it away but give it a fair shake. You trust more. Stress less. Amplify gratitude. Mute grumbling. And what do you know? Before long the day is done and surprisingly decent. 

So decent, in fact, that you resolve to give the next day the same fighting chance. It arrives with its hang-ups and bang-ups, bird drops and shirt stains, but by and large, by golly, giving the day a chance works! You do the same the next day and the next. days become a week. Weeks become months. Months become years of good days.

In such a fashion good lives are built. One good day at a time.

An hour is too short, a year too long. Days are the bite-size portions of life, the God-designed segments of life management.

Eighty-four thousand heartbeats.

One thousand four hundreds and forty minutes.

A complete rotation of the earth.

A circle of the sundial.

Two dozen flips of the hourglass.

Both a sunrise and a sunset.

A brand-spanking-new, unsoiled, untouched, uncharged, and unused day!

A gift of twenty-four unlived, unexplored hours.

And if you can stack one good day on another and another, you will link together a good life.

But here's what you need to keep in mind.

You no longer have yesterday. It slipped away as you slept. It is gone. You'll more easily retrieve a puff of smoke. You can't change, alter, or improve it. Sorry, no mulligans allowed. Hourglass sand won't flow upward. The second hand of the clock refuses to tick backward. The monthly calendar reads left to right, not right to left. You no longer have yesterday.

You do not yet have tomorrow. Unless you accelerate the orbit of the earth or convince the sun to rise twice before it sets once, you can't live tomorrow today. You can't spend tomorrow's money, celebrate tomorrow's achievements, or resolve tomorrow's riddles. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made.

Live in it. (Emphasis mine)You must be present to win. Don't heavy today with yesterday's regrets or acidize it with tomorrow's troubles...."

There's so much more that is so good. Please read the rest. I keep hearing lately about "living in the present" and while I've dismissed it often, I've been more convicted lately to really do so. To give today. To listen today. To do today. To serve today. Let this be an encouragement to you as well... THIS is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it :)

Inquisitive Eyes Make Me Curious

So I’m curious to see if this has happened to any other bloggers out there… where you have written about a  company, show, or person and that company, show, or person has contacted you afterwards asking you to continue to spread the word. Well a few weeks ago it happened to me and I was pleasantly surprised by the following email from Secret Millionaire on ABC:

Hi Michelle,

What happened when Curves founders John and Diane Heavin spent a week living on just $6.50 a day in Houston, TX?  That’s exactly what we found out on Sunday’s all new episode of ABC’s Secret Millionaire. If you didn’t catch the show, it is now available to watch on ABC.com along with additional info about the millionaires!

 Watch Sunday’s episode of Secret Millionaire here:

http://abc.go.com/watch/secret-millionaire/SH5580166/VD55120013/gary--diane-heavin-houston-tx?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

Has Secret Millionaire inspired you to get involved and contribute to your community?  ABC.com has provided fans with the tools and motivation to act on that inspiration and make a difference with “I Pledge” and “Get Involved.”

 Take on the challenge of bringing the Secret Millionaire message out into your neighborhood through “I Pledge” on ABC.com. Join the ABC.com community and make a promise to get involved and help others!  Share your pledge and see what others are saying as well on “I Pledge” here:

http://abc.go.com/shows/secret-millionaire/i-pledge?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

 Made your pledge but need some tips on how you can begin helping? Visit “Get Involved” on ABC.com for some helpful advice, a Secret Millionaire toolkit, links to info about the charitable organizations featured on the show and more here:

http://abc.go.com/shows/secret-millionaire/get-involved?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

 Please share this news with your readers.  New episodes of Secret Millionaire air Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.

I was always curious to see if TV shows, such as Secret Millionaire, were out there with interested eyes all over the blog world seeing what people are writing and saying about their new hit show. Kind of crazy how public information is once you put it out on the world wide web, isn’t it? In fact it made me a little anxious, just like it does when I see that a person half way across the world read what I wrote last week… but at the same time it’s exciting because you realize that people are actually interested and hopefully motivated by what you are writing.

Now for your stories… have you ever had a company or person contact you after you wrote about them? Have any of them offered to pay you to market their product? 

Oh and P.S. – the show they are referring to about the Curves founders was probably my favorite! Watch it on ABC if you get a chance… it was really neat to see how they gave! And their Texas home is totally amazing!! 

March Donation

March has flown by for me! While my mind and heart have still been thinking of what to blog about and wanting to blog, I just haven’t been able to physically make the time to do it. Crazy how time flies huh? One of the reasons I have been so busy, is the fact that I got engaged March 18^th! And with a wedding only 4 months away, the last two weeks have been solely devoted to wedding planning when I haven’t been working, eating, or sleeping. But without further delay, here is some information about the organization that I am donating my $100 to for the month of March:

My one my girlfriends Desiree, works for the American Cancer Society and every year they run the Relay for Life. I remember raising funds in elementary and Jr high school for the event, but have not been educated about it since. Desiree sent out a few emails to her friends and family awhile back, asking for donations and it made me think about how neat it would be for me to support her for the month of March! After asking about the event and doing some research, I can see why she is so passionate about this opportunity to raise funds to help fight cancer. And what a neat way to do it!!!

One of the quotes I love from her email was “help us as we work to save lives and create a world with more birthdays! Every donation brings us one step closer to a cure.” – what a great concept and something that everyone can become passionate about! There’s not one of us that has not been affected by cancer in some way or another.

Desiree is running the race on June 10^th here in Oklahoma City. I’ll actually be out of the country on a trip myself, but I had her send me some information on the race in case you are interested. Just hearing her tell me about last year’s race, made me wish I could see it for myself. Here’s what she sent me:

The OKC Relay for Life is on Friday, June 10th at 7pm and goes until 7am on Saturday, June 11th.  It is at Southern Nazarene University's sports complex off on 50th west of Council and the theme this year is "Rushing for a Cure".  The overall community goal is to raise $100,000 and all the proceeds goes towards cancer research, education and patient care.  During the night of relay, the goal is to have someone on your team to walk the track around the field the whole time the relay is going on.  Some teams will camp out during the relay event.  We have a special time during relay, where all the survivors walk a lap around the field, which is emotional to watch. When it gets dark, we have these bags called luminaries, which is a paper bag with a candle in it that we light in honor/memory of someone that has cancer.  People will buy these and decorate them for someone they know or if they don't want to decorate them, we will do it for them.  They outline the football field so it is really cool when they are lit. Also, we put some up in the stands that spell “hope” and then during the ceremony, the word changes to “cure”. There are activities that go on the night of relay that make it fun for all who are attending.  It is free of cost to get in, but inside, each team has some kind of fundraiser going on, so there are plenty of donation opportunities at the event itself.

 So how does the race benefit others?

•        It helps people get well by educating them on how to reduce their risk of cancer, and how to detect it early, at its most treatable stage
•  Helps people stay well by providing support to newly diagnosed patients in the form of transportation, lodging, wigs, education, and more
• ·       Finds cures by supporting millions of dollars in research grants each year to the best and brightest young researchers in their field of expertise
•        And fights back by supporting laws at the local, state, and federal level that will have a positive impact on healthcare and cancer patients nationwide

I was so happy to donate to such a cause and hope that you will check out a Race for the Cure in your area, wherever you live. If you’d like to find out more info about how your donation and time could make a difference, please visit their donation page.

So many opportunities

After offering a poll for readers to vote on, I’m curious to see if this is the best way to determine who to give to each month… One reader said they really had a hard time weighing which organization could best use that money.. how was she supposed to chose one over the other? It really made me think and while I’m going to test out the voting poll for a few more months, I’m going to be rethinking how I can get you guys involved as readers and also support organizations in the best way possible for months to come. Do you guys have any ideas? Or did you also have a hard time figuring out how to vote? 

On a different note, I feel as if I’ve been hit with a million chances to write about amazing organizations ever since I started this blog! Funny how that works huh? Whether it be charity events, requests from friends and family, or news articles jumping out at me, I feel like my eyes have been opened to many amazing organizations around me that need to be noticed. The good news: I have so many topics to choose from to write about! The bad news: there are not enough hours in the day, week, and month to cover them all in the detail they deserve!! But at the end of the day, I will definitely take the endless opportunities and am thankful to God for opening my eyes to those around me. So many people are doing so many amazing things!! And what a blessing it is to notice the positive!

If you know of any organizations that you would love to learn more about, feel free to shoot me an email. I’ve also had friends and family ask me to do some research on organizations they would like to give to…

And finally- what are you doing these days to make a difference? I’d love to hear your experiences!

"Secret Millionaire"

Has anyone else fallen in love with the new show Secret Millionaire on ABC? If you haven't heard of it, I encourage you to definitely check it out! It airs on Sunday nights but you can also watch the shows online. There have only been two episodes and yet as we watched them this weekend, I couldn't help but love the concept of the show! Millionaires move to and live in the worst parts of the country for a week, then they find people volunteering and giving to those around them, and at the end of the week they reward these deserving people with their own personal money to help fund their volunteer programs. I haven't made it through either show without crying, as you can't help but be so encouraged by the people making a difference in their communities! This last episode I really loved the millionaire's heart as well... after seeing what these people go through, he was so willing to go above and beyond and he seemed to really care about these people he was privileged enough to meet. His was a life that was changed. Check out this really cool encounter he had with just one person he got to meet:

"Marc Helps A Selfless Mother!" from Secret Millionaire

Marc reveals to Courtney, a selfless single mother, that he is a millionaire!

Click Here to Watch

"Marc Helps A Selfless Mother!" from Secret Millionaire

Marc reveals to Courtney, a selfless single mother, that he is a millionaire!

Click Here to Watch

So after watching these episodes, I was excited to write about them and also excited to see what others were saying about the show. I came across some really encouraging things! 

First of all, ABC polled the audience and asked the following: 

What interests you most about Secret Millionaire?

The millionaires

4%

The volunteers helping others

20%

Seeing how lives change

54%

Watching the millionaires give away money

21%

And it just really gets me excited to see that America is most interested in seeing lives change - yes, it's neat to see a millionaire give their money away, but what really matters? It's the lives that are changed as a result of that giving.

Another section on the ABC website challenges people to pledge to change their community. This is what they ask:

Has "Secret Millionaire" inspired YOU to make a difference in your community? What will you like to pledge to do to get involved and help others? Check back and see what others viewers are pledging as well!


One comment in particular really encouraged me as I hope it encourages you:

stacie296

6 days ago

I saw those women from the love kitchen and they inspired me to take action. This morning I woke up and called our local food bank to see what my two young daughters and I could do to help. So later this month, we'll be taking a tour of the food bank and then getting some bags to do regular food drives in our neighborhood. Thank you to ABC for such an inspirational show. We need more of this kind of TV. 

Don't we really??? America is hungry to see lives changed. So many of us have become sick of the filth and emptiness on TV and at the end of day, realize that the giving of ourselves is where true happiness can be found. There's no feeling like it. 


Let me know what you guys think of the show.... or if like Stacie, it has made you pledge to make a difference in your community. I would love to hear about it!

Mavis...the beginning of something wonderful



Look how precious she is!

As promised, I received my Compassion packet in the mail a few weeks after adopting Mavis as my Compassion child. I was so excited to open it up and look at her adorable picture and start communicating with her! I was given a Sponsor Number and lots of information of how to get started. A DVD was even included to watch and then pass on to anyone else that may be interested in sponsoring a child (let me know if you’d like to see it, and I’ll make sure to get it to you!) Jake and I watched it and I can't count how many times the pictures pulled at my heart and made me want to go visit each sweet child. The DVD really shows you how Compassion serves and helps you understand a little more about being a sponsor.

This page told me all about Mavis and where she lives. Her mother and father are married and there are 3 children in the family. She lives in Bubuashi, Ghana- home to about 24,000 people. Half of the adults are unemployed yet I found out that Mavis's parents can sometimes find work and could possibly be traders, making about $48 a month. It breaks me heart to think how often I spend that much money in one day while they provide for their entire family with that amount for a month. Malaria and diarrhea are the most common health problems in the area and improved housing is needed for the community, as most houses are made out of cement and iron. 


English is the primary language (which really was a blessing when I visited 6 years ago) due to Ghana being colonized by the British. The country is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, and rubber, yet 45% of the population makes less than $1 a day. Many refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo also come to live in Ghana due to the country's independence which was granted in 1957.

My packet also contained a folder for me to write down my personal information to send to Mavis along with a picture. I can then write her letters and start corresponding with her. I assume that since English is the primary language in Ghana, Compassion will not have to translate my letters but they do this for all sponsors and children when necessary. 

As I understand it, Compassion utilizes programs that are already in existence in the country who choose the children that most need sponsorship out of the community. The program I'll be working with is called Redemption Hour Child Development Center. They will provide Mavis with Bible teaching, health exams, deworming, recreational activities, tuition and educational materials with the money that I give each month. I love most that she will be learning about Jesus and a God that loves her, as well as having her physical needs taken care of.

When I visited Ghana several years ago, teenage girls would walk miles to our school where they were able to learn, take showers, and eat healthy meals every day. Some of these girls had never seen such facilities and were so thankful for a daily shower that I so often take for granted and see as a necessity instead of a privilege. What a blessing it was for me to have my perspective changed.

I'll be sharing with you all my letters to Mavis and the updates I get back about how she is doing. What a privilege it is to join with Compassion in changing a life!

Feb 2011 Donation

After checking out the votes, I decided to donate $100 to Compassion for the month of February! What a blessing it is to give to organizations that will turn that money around and change lives. Compassion has such a great track record and history that I know my money will be well spent and will make a difference in a child’s life somewhere around the world. By logging onto Compassion’s website I found this list of programs to give to:

   AIDS Initiative 

   Unsponsored Children

   Where Most Needed

   Leadership Development Program

   Partners of Compassion

   Malaria Intervention Fund

   Disaster Relief

   Water Filter

   Child Survival Program

   Medical Assistance Fund

   Help Highly Vulnerable Children 

The Child Survival Program caught my eye and after reading the below story, I was excited to fill out the form and send my donation. You’ll see why after reading this story about twin baby boys:

Babies born prematurely in the United States have cutting-edge medical technology on their side. And even with highly educated doctors and pristine hospitals, these tiny babies still die.

But thousands of miles away from those safe hospitals, Cyrus and Cyril were born in a tiny shack in the Philippines. Their mother, Maida, felt helpless as she held her sons, weighing a combined 4 pounds. They desperately needed medical attention, but Maida, unemployed and abandoned by her husband, couldn't afford it. Her babies didn't even have a crib — they slept on a cold piece of cardboard on the floor.

But when Cyrus and Cyril were just a few weeks old, Compassion's Child Survival Program intervened. The twins received crucial medical attention, and Cyrus was treated for a heart condition. Maida also learned how to create a healthy and safe home for her fragile little boys. The Child Survival Program was the difference between life and death for Cyrus and Cyril.

"I needed help," says Maida. "I didn't know where my husband was. I had very sick twins. I needed training to become a good mother." You can save the lives of vulnerable children like Cyrus and Cyril and desperate mothers like Maida by giving to the Child Survival Program today.

Today, Child Survival Program projects in a variety of countries are giving young children like Cyrus and Cyril a good start in life and hope for a brighter future.

This program exists to save the lives of the youngest, most vulnerable children, including those yet to be born. They are provided what they need to develop into healthy, thriving boys and girls -- nutritious food supplements, immunizations, ongoing health care and age-appropriate early childhood education and development opportunities. In addition, these children's mothers (or primary caregivers) are provided prenatal care, health care, parenting skills training and spiritual nurturing.

Most important, these mothers and children see God's great love in action every day through the care and love unconditionally shared by the Child Survival Program staff. 

And many of these mothers are making decisions to follow Christ.

Currently more than 11,000 caregivers, children and pregnant women are receiving lifesaving assistance through the Child Survival Program. Your contribution of $35 will provide the basic life needs for one child and mother for at least one month; a gift of $100 will help them for at least three months. And a gift of any size will help us extend this program of health and hope to even more of the world's children in desperate need, like little Cyrus and Cyril. 

Help a child and mother for 3 months? YES PLEASE! Sign me up!

All I had to do was fill out their electronic form and then submit my payment online. If you would like to learn more or donate yourself, please check out the website.